Junie B., First Grader_ Cheater Pants - Barbara Park [9]
I shook my head. That didn't look right, either.
Finally, I covered my face and I did a groan.
“Shh!” said May.
Herb started to turn around to see what was the matter. Then he quick stopped himself. ’Cause no turning around during a test, of course.
I looked at what I wrote some more. Then I strained my brain to try and remember how to spell it. Only nothing came to me.
Finally, I did another groan.
And that's when a miracle happened!
My friend Herbert came to my rescue!
First, he shifted a teensy bit in his chair. Then he moved his test paper to where I could see it. And he pointed to the word with his finger.
My mouth came open at that lovely gesture.
’Cause I didn't even ask him to do that! Herb just gave that word to me.
Like a gift!
I stretched my neck to see it better.
And yay! As soon as I saw the word, my imagination got sparked! And I remembered the letter l perfectly good!
I quick wrote it down on my paper.
I was just in time!
Mr. Scary was already on the next word.
“Peek,” he said. “I saw you peek. Peek.”
Just then, I sat in my seat very still. And I did a gulp. ’Cause I really thought he saw me peek, that's why.
Only good news! I was wrong!
On account of he didn't see me peek. He didn't! And besides, what I did this time wasn't even bad, probably. Because Herb shared that word with me. Just like we shared words for our poem.
Finally, I did a little sigh. And I wrote peek on my paper.
After that, I took the rest of the spelling test very perfect.
And I put what happened right out of my brain.
Sort of.
That night, me and Philip Johnny Bob didn't sleep that good.
We tossed and turned a real lot.
Also, Philip Johnny Bob talked in his sleep a little bit. ’Cause I heard him say the word cheater pants.
I woke him up when I heard that. Then both of us got a drink of water. And we talked about what was the trouble.
The next morning, our eyes were poopish and droopy.
And guess what? We were not the only ones who looked like that, either. ’Cause when my friend Herb got on the bus, his eyes were poopish and droopy, too.
He plopped down next to me. And he did a big yawn.
“I didn't sleep good last night,” he said real tired.
I nodded. “Me too, Herb. I didn't sleep good, too,” I said.
Herb sat there a minute. Then he did a sigh.
“Yeah, only I don't even want to tell you why I didn't sleep,” he said. “Or maybe you might get mad at me.”
I raised my eyebrows at him. “Oh?”
Herb squirmed in his seat kind of uncomfortable. Then he quieted his voice.
“It's kind of about the spelling test,” he whispered.
I thought about that. “Oh,” I said. “Oh, yeah. I guess I didn't thank you for helping me, did I?”
I patted his arm.
“Thank you, Herb,” I said. “Because of you, I will always remember how to spell the word would.”
Herb's shoulders slumped way down.
“Yeah, see … but that's the problem, Junie B.,” he said. “That's why I didn't sleep last night. Because I'm sorry, but I don't feel that good about helping you.”
He squirmed some more.
“I mean, at the time, I thought it would be nice. But as soon as I showed you my test, it didn't feel nice at all. Instead, it felt like … well, you know, it felt like I was a—”
I quick sat up and interrupted him.
“A cheater pants!” I said. “It felt like you were a cheater pants. Right, Herb? Right? That's how come you couldn't sleep last night, correct? ’Cause at first you thought it would be nice to share with me. Only as soon as you did it, it felt kind of wrong inside.”
Herb looked surprised at me. “Yeah, it did. But how did you even know that?”
“Because, Herb. Because,” I said. “Have you forgotten who you are talking to here? I am a cheater pants myself, remember? So I know exactly what it feels like!”
I shook my head.
“I can't believe it, Herb. I can't believe I did it two days in a row,” I said. “’Cause on Monday I copied May's homework. And yesterday I copied your spelling word. Only at first, I tried to pretend that you and me were just sharing.”
Herb nodded kind of sad. “Yeah. But we weren't, were we?” he said.
“No,” I said back.